[Article written by Matt Nevins. Originally published in his email newsletter “The Lamp.”]
The Scriptures affirms its inspiration of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17) and that learning what is presented reveals a portion of the mind of God (1 Cor. 2:11-13). Therefore when we read ‘if any man should speak, let him speak as the oracles of God’ (1 Pet. 4:11), the man that speaks as God will use God’s diction and within the context that God has spoken. So when questions arise about the function of a preacher, a pastor, deacon, steward, Christian, a local congregation, etc the answer must be put forth in terms complimentary and harmoniously to what God has already spoken. Any worthwhile, sincere study must have this foundation laid before approaching the Scriptures.
It is no surprise when people do not understand why a person is a preacher but not a pastor. Individuals today have made the terms pastor and preacher interchangeable instead of speaking of these roles in the proper context according to the Bible. People look at the religious world and sees marriage/divorce pastors, youth pastors, pulpit pastors, and whatever pastor you can find and say ‘Look there is a pastor!’ when in reality what is really there is a person attempting to be a preacher. Let us therefore examine the Scriptures and see if being a preacher makes you a pastor, and if we can use these terms interchangeably.
What is a Preacher?
Preachers are simply men who are teaching the word of God at occasions of opportunity (2 Tim. 4:2), or as Paul said, preachers are stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Cor. 4:1). Paul, Peter, and Apollos were men responsible for presenting what was a mystery to man that God has now revealed once for all (Jude 3). Philip in Acts 8 guided the Ethiopian eunuch through the Scriptures to show how salvation is possible through the Christ which was once a mystery to men. This description is very simple, and is what we will find in the New Testament. Men try to make preaching more appealing by adding titles, apparel, and unique duties that is not prescribed in the Scriptures. Some preachers have turned the duty of evangelism into a preference for socialism and stature in communities. Preachers in the New Testament simply spoke what God had revealed, no more and no less.
Not just any person can be a preacher. Observed qualifications for preachers would include: being a man (1 Cor. 3:21-22), trustworthy (1 Cor. 4:2), knowledge and understanding of the doctrine of Christ (Tit. 2:1), and accept the responsibility of teaching what is right knowing of the heavier judgment (Jms. 3:1). Preachers mentioned in the New Testament would include Peter, Paul, Stephen, Philip, Apollos, Titus, Timothy, and the list could continue. Each man had developed an understanding of God’s word and possessed a desire to proclaim it to others in any arena allowable. Preachers were not confined to stay in one spot, but traveled to find more opportunities (Acts 8:5, 10:23, 11:25-26, 13:1-3). In summation, preachers in the New Testament were knowledgeable men who could convey or give the understanding of the doctrine of Christ.
What is a Pastor?
Pastors are men who eagerly tend to the spiritual needs of saints in a local congregation (1 Pet. 5:2-3). Pastors fulfill a leadership role designated by God to nurture and protect God’s children. While teaching God’s word would be inclusive in the nature of meeting the needs of the congregation, pastors are also given the responsibility to monitor the spiritual status of the members in the congregation (Acts 20:28). When Paul met with the Ephesian elders in Miletus, Paul warned of how deceptive men will rise in opposition to the flock from among the elders as well as men outside coming into their midst (Acts 20:29-30). The solution was for the elders to be on alert and remember the doctrine of Christ. In essence the pastors, or elders, would lead the congregation and be an example of Christian conduct.
Pastors lead the congregation, which God purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28). Every congregation has spiritual needs, and has been prescribed for the pastors to meet which indicates that pastors are needed in every congregation. When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he addressed the letter to the saints, deacons, and bishops there in Philippi (Phil. 1:1) Furthermore Paul charged Titus, who was in Crete, to make sure that there were elders in every city (Tit. 1:5). The tending of the spiritual needs of a congregation has been given to the pastors, not the preachers. The preachers’ responsibility lies in the spreading of the gospel, whereas the pastors’ responsibility lies in the tending to the congregation.
It is necessary to note that God is more restrictive in who may be an elder than who may be a preacher. We have preserved lists of qualifications for pastors in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. The reader may quickly note that many of the requirements of the elders need to be characteristic of all Christians. These traits would include: being temperate, prudent, not addicted to wine, gentle, peaceable, stand blameless, ability to share the gospel with others, just, devout, hospitable, and loves what is good. These are things that any person can emulate and perfect in time. However, there are qualifications that would restrict certain individuals. Consider that an elder must be the husband of one wife, cannot be a novice (a babe in Christ), a good manager of his household, and hold a desire to serve in the capacity as an elder. By specifying certain qualities, the Lord has restricted or prohibited groups of individuals from fulfilling this role.
God put forth these specifications for a reason. Man may not understand the wisdom of God, nor is man required to understand the reasoning of God but is required to accept what God has said and be obedient. By reviewing the God’s requirements for pastors, it ought to be evident not all men qualify to be pastors. Some men do not qualify because they do not have a desire to serve as a pastor (1 Tim. 3:1). God does not require every man to be an elder, but extends the invitation to those men who would desire to serve in such a capacity. A man will not be effective if he lacks the motivation needed to adequately guard the flock. Other men do not have a household to manage (1 Tim. 3:4-5). This may because he is single and does not have a wife (1 Tim. 3:2, Tit. 1:6). Another reason may be that a man may not have children (1 Tim. 3:4-5, Tit. 1:6). These are two aspects of pastors that are required by God. If a man cannot show good management of a household or even have a household to rule, then God does not permit this man to serve as an elder. These are just a couple of examples to show that not every man is able to be pastors because of the specs that God has established.
Is it Possible for a Preacher to be a Pastor?
Upon establishing what preachers and pastors are and who is eligible for these roles, it is natural to ask the question, ‘Can a preacher be a pastor?’ The answer in short is yes. However, not all preachers are pastors and vice versa. Each role shares a common tie in the ability to teach others (1 Tim. 4:2, Tit. 1:9). However the focus of each role does differ. The pastor would have more of a need to be stationary as he is only able to oversee the flock he is among, and his responsibilities to the congregation and his family may limit the time and energy to focus also on preaching. Preachers are expected to preach and teach at any time in any place, wherever the need may reside within the natural parameters of opportunity and resources.
Peter is an example of one who was able and willing to fulfill both roles. Peter was among the twelve on Pentecost preaching the gospel of Christ (Acts 2), and continued to preach (Acts 10, 11, Gal 2). We also find evidence of Peter fulfilling the role as an elder later on in his life in 1 Peter 5:1. Peter said he was an elder and was encouraging other elders to shepherd the flock appropriately with eagerness (1 Pet. 5:1-2). Evidence of Peter fulfilling both roles does not require that all preachers must be pastors because considering the previously noted qualifications for pastors, Paul would be ineligible.
Paul devoted his life to the cause of Christ and remained as a bachelor (1 Cor. 8:8). If preachers are also pastors and the terms are interchangeable, then Paul was lying when he told brethren that he was a preacher of the gospel (Rom. 1:15, Eph. 3:1-10). If all preachers are pastors, then every preacher must be the man of one wife (1 Tim. 3:2). Either God has contradicted Himself, or man has misapplied and misused God’s terminology. God is pure without any form of evil in His nature (1 Jn. 1:5). God’s word is true and cannot be false.
Preachers and pastors are not the same when viewed in the proper context. Even though a man may fulfill both roles, not every man can be a preacher and/or a pastor. Paul was a preacher (Rom. 1:15, Eph. 3:1-10), but not a pastor. Peter was both a pastor and a preacher (1 Pet. 5:1, 2 Pet. 1:12-15). The Ephesian elders were pastors, but not noted as preachers (Acts 20:17, 28). It is important for us today to be able to discuss Scriptural topics, but in order to efficiently and effectively study, we must respect the terminology God has used in order to have an accurate understanding. If any man should speak, let him speak as the oracles of God (1 Pet. 4:11).
